Combined refrigerator, show-case, and counter.



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W. AMENDA.

COMBINED REFRIGERATOR, SHOW CASE, AND COUNTER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, I932.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

. AMENDA.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W COMBINED REFRIGERATOR, SHOW CASE, AND COUNTER. APPLICATION FILED AUG,19, 1912. 1,168,776.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG- 19. I912.

21 SHEETS-SHEET I- Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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4772 dvzazia WILLIAM AMENIDA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINED REFRIGERATOR, SHOW-CASE, AND COUNTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 18, 1916.

Application filed August 19, 1912. Serial No. 715,811.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM AMENDA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful'Improvements in Combined Refrigerators, Show-Cases, and Counters, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is n providing improved refrigerating means in a dining counter whereby the ready for serving eatables are protected from exposure, and at the same time are exposed to the View of customers.

Another object is to provide improved refrigerating means to a show case or counter, whereby perishable foods can be preserved, and at the same time are Visible for the inspection of prospective customers.

A further object is in provlding an mproved refrigerator show case and serving counter, so that perishable eatables can be kept therein in cooled compartments being in sight and adjacent to the customers and servers, so that quick and effluent service can be given.

A still further object is in providing mproved air circulating means to this improved combined refrigerator show case and counter.

Other and further objects w1ll appear 1n the specification and be specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention, and in wh1ch- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through this improved combined show case and counter taken on the line I-Iof F1g. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1, partly in section and taken on the line I I-II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line YV of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section. taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken on theline VII-VII of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan of a portion of the upper cooling compartment. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a showcase showing the improved cooling compartments mounted therein.

Referring to the drawings, the box portion 1 of this show case counter has mounted thereon the show case 2, and in the center portion of the box portion 1 is formed a refrigerating compartment 3; formed on each side of the refrigerator compartment are a series of cooling compartments 4. Formed adjacent the ends of the box portion 1 are drawers 5 and shelves 6.

In the construction of this improved show case and counter the rear wall 7, front wall 8, bottom 9, and ends 10, are preferably c0nstructed of wood, and .have an insulation 11 incased therein. The show case 2, being mounted on the box portion 1 of the counter, has an extended portion 12, which extends beyond the front wall 8 of the box portion 1. The front portion 13, of the top surface of the show case 2, is preferably constructed of wood, and is insulated. WVhereas the rear and center portion of the show case top is constructed of glass, there being 2 glass layers 14, spaced apart forming a chamber 15. The front and ends of the show case 2, are also constructed of glass, the glass lavers 16, being spaced apart forming a chamber 17. Mounted in the refrigerator compartment 3, adjacent the front wall 8, and on the supporting rods 18. are liquid containers 19; said liquid containers being for the purpose of containing different kinds of drinks. and leading from the bottom of said containers are. the draw-off pipes 20, which are controlled bv the faucets 21. Mounted in a dri pan 22, beneath the containers 19, isa coil of pipe 23, which is for the purpose of having water circulate therethrough; said coil 23. receiving its supply from the supplv pipe 24, and discharging out of a discharge pipe 25, wh ch will be controlled bv a faucet not shown similar to and in alinement with the faucet 21. which is at the rear of the counter. Connecting with the drip can 22, is a drain pipe 26. having the usual water tra 27 connected thereto. Moun ed adiacent the top of the water coil .23. is'an ice rack or su ort 28. so that when a block of ice is laced thereon. and the wate co l bein adiacent. the wa er in said coil will be suflicientlv cool for drinking purposes: and bv the osition of the liouid containers in relat on to the ice the liquids contained therein will be kept cool.

Formed in the rear Wall 7, adjacent the ice rack 28, is a door 29, and formed in said wall 7 adjacent the lower end of the refrigerating compartment 3, is a door 30. Formed on each side of the refrigerating through the opening 40.

travel on to the ends of the show case until the openings 38 are reached, then the air will travel the passage ways 39 on to the openings 40, formed in the center of the bottom of the showcase 2, through which the air will pass and enter the refrigerated compartment 3, down the passage way 64.

In forming the horizontal passage ways '37 and 39, it is preferable to use. inverted channel members 41, which extend longitudinal of the show case 2, to the points ad-- jacent the'ends' of said show case. Formed on one side of these inverted channel mem bers 41, adjacent the horizontal passage ways 39, are a series of openings 42, said openings being for the purpose of allowing air to be drawn in jto'the inverted channel .membersl This will, increase the speed of the air currents fasth'e air is discharged Mounted on-the bottom of the show case 2, adjacent the walls thereof are resting strips 43, said resting strips along with the inverted channel members 41, serving as supports for trays 44', saidtrays'being preferably' 'made of enameled metal or glass, and when'mounted in place form the'top of the horizontal-passage ways 37 and 39; and'at the same timearefor the purpose of containing food stuffs. y g

In order to'get the air to the upperv compartments :4, the air after entering the horizontal passageways 34, will traverse, the vertical passage ways :32, and willenter the short. horizontal, passage ways 45,; which horizontal passageways 45pass through the vertical passage :ways 33,,andconnect with the horizontal' passage ways *46'g lo- 'cated in the. upperfcompartments j4. -After the air has traversed the horizontal passage ways46, .the, ai-rwill pass into the return horizontal, jpas'sageways 47, through the openings 48, and -wil1 "then pass on out and up through'the; vertical passageways 49; and willgreturnto the top of therefrigeratoncompartments '3,"through the discharge open-ings; 50.; I

' j In gettinggtheiairitq. the middlecompait, ments 4,. theairjwfll enter the vertical passage ways 31 ffromthe'horizontal passage ways 34, and will then cross through the vertical passage ways 32 and 33 by way of compartment 3,.

the horizontal passage ways 51; and, will enter horizontal passage ways 52, and traverse the length of the middle compartments 4, and will return on through the openings 53 and horizontal passage ways 54, and after the air has traversed these horizontal passage ways it will be returned to the top of the refrigerator compartment 3 through the vertical passage ways 49, and

opening 50. In getting the air to thelower compartments 4, the air will pass along the horizontal passage ways 34 and enter the horizontal passage ways 55; in the lower' compartments 4 through the openings 56, and after. traversing the length of said lower compartments 4, the air will pass through the openings 56*. at the ends of said compartments and will be returned to the vertical passage ways 49 through the horizontal passage ways 57; and the air after traversing said vertical passage ways 49 will enter the top of the refrigerator compartment 3, through the openings 50.

In forming the horizontal passage ways inverted channel members 58 are used, said inverted channel members 58 being constructed. similar to the inverted channel members 41; in the compartments 4 are resting strips 59, which along with the inverted channel members 58 serve as supports for trays 60.

"In order'to have access to the show case 2,

doors such as 61 are formed in the rear wall 7 of thecounter adjacent theshow case and doors such as 62 are also formed in the rear of wall 7 in order to have access to the compartments 4. v

In the chambers 15 and 17 formed by the spaced layers of glass 14 and 16 a vacuum is produced, which acts as an insulation to the transparent portion of the show case 2, and

will also prevent vapor forming on the transparent surfaces; so that customers can see through said transparent surface and inspect food stuffs in said showcase; I I

In the operation of this improved, device assuming that the shelving 28; is' laden with ice the refrigerator compartment 3 will be come cool and the ice being adjacent the water coil 23 and the liquid containers 19 will cool the contents therein.

It'is wait known fact that the cold air. will descend and in so doing the air will. enter the horizontal passage ways 34, said horia z ontal passage ways being adjacent the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 3-and' will enter the compartments to be cooled through their respective vertical passage ways 31-32 and'33, and as afore described after circulating through the compartments, will be returned back to the top of thejrej-r' frigerator by reason of the air becoming graduallywarmer; then as the returned air which will be at the top of the refrigerator compartmentbecomes cool, 'it will gradually descend to the bottom of the refrigerator compartment and will again ascend up the vertical passage ways to the difierent compartments; and by the system of continuous circulation of cool air through the compartments perfect refrigeration will be attained. The inverted channel members 41 and 58 having the openings on the side walls thereof, adjacent the return horizontal passage ways in the separate compartments will have a tendency to increase the return current of air out through the discharge openings located adjacent the top of the refrigerator compartments which will aid the circulation of air through the different compartments.

The trays 44: and 60 which serve as containers for food stuffs, and also answer for top walls of the passage ways in the compartments, are loosely mounted on the restmoved for the purpose of cleaning them,

and when so removed the horizontal passage ways are accessible, so that this improved show case counter can be kept in a sanitary condition.

This improved method of circulating the air will prevent foul atmospheric conditions in a device of this character, and food stuffs can be kept in a much more clean, cool and sanitary condition than heretofore; and as aforestated in using this improvement in connection with a combined showcase and dining counter, customers can be assured of getting eatables in a clean and sanitary condition.

Furthermore in combining this improved serving counter and refrigerator as described, quicker service can be had, and a server will not have to be continually going back to the refrigerator or ice box now in use for perishable food stufis, as this improved co-unter and show case is designed to contain such food stuffs.

Referring to Fig. 9, it is readily seen how this improved device can be applied to a.

show case having the front, top, and ends entirely of glass with the vacuum chamber located therein, which could be very well adapted for butchers and the like where their goods can be in sight to the customers and do not have to be brought out of this improved refrigerator and show case until called for; which will eliminate'the too frequent handling of meats, as is now carried on with different meats lying around oncounters and butchers blocks; and are also exposed to the foul conditions of the sur rounding atmosphere.

In order to be able to cut off the refrigerating air supply from any one of the compartments, a slide damper 63 such as shown adjacent the horizontal passage way 34. m

located above said cooling section, a passageway leading from said cooling section to each compartment, each of said passageways forming means'for conveying air from the bottom of said cooling section to said compartment, and means for discharging air from said compartments at a point adj acent the top of said cooling section.

2. In a refrigerator show case and counter, the combination of a series of compartments located therein, an air cooling section located in said counter, horizontal passageways located in said compartments, said horizontal passageways traversing the length of said compartments on one side, and returning along the other side, said horizontal passageways connecting with said cooling section at the bottom and having discharging communication with said cooling section adjacent the top thereof.

3. In a refrigerator show case and counter, the combination of a series of compartments located therein, an air cooling section located in said counter, horizontal passageways located in said compartments, removable trays located above said horizontal passageways and forming the top walls thereof, said horizontal passageways traversing the length of said compartments on one side and returning along the other side, said horizontal passageways communicating with said cooling section at the bottom, and having a discharge communication with said cooling section adjacent the top thereof.

4. In, a refrigeratorshow case and counter the combination of a series of compartments located therein, an air cooling section located in said counter, horizontal return passage ways located in said compartments communicating with the bottom of said cooling section, a hollow member located longitudinally in each horizontal passage way, a series'of holes formed on one side of said hollow member, the holes of said hollow members forming means of communication with the return side ofeach of said horizontal passage ways, the return side of said horizontal passage ways and hollow members communicating with said cooling sec- "tion adjacent the top thereof.

ways located in said compartments, each ofsaid passageways extending to and being in receiving communication with the lower end of said air cooling section and indiecharging communication with the upper end of said air cooling section.

6. In a combined show case and refrigerator, the combination of a series of compartments located therein, horizontal passageways located in said compartments, removable trays adapted to form the top wall of said passageways, said passageways being in receiving communication with the lower end of an an cooling sectlon and 1n dlscharglng l0 comniunicatlon wlth the upper end 01' said cooling section.

WILLIAM AMENDA. In the presence of H. G. FLETCHER, L. KLEINToPF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

